Monza-Milan: video highlights and highlights from Sunday evening’s Serie A match on February 18, 2024, with moviola episodes and report cards.
Palladino’s Monza hosts Pioli’s Milan for the 25th day of Serie A. The Rossoneri are coming off success in the Europa League and an excellent series of positive results in Serie A. The match comes between Milan’s two European commitments, which is why the Rossoneri coach relies on a massive turnover: the entire attack is put to rest by Pioli.
Okafor, Jovic and Chukwueze, who has just returned from the African Cup of Nations, play up front. The only one confirmed in the three-quarter is Loftus Cheek. In defense, Thiaw is seen again. Palladino responds with an unusual four-man defense. In attack, Djuric is on point, and behind him are Valentin Carboni, Colpani and Mota.
By winning, Milan can move into second place by overtaking Juventus, which drew 2-2 against Verona. Monza comes from two consecutive 0-0 draws (against Udinese and Verona).
Highlights of the challenge
The hosts were well set up and closed in neatly, even making themselves dangerous on the restart. In all these initial chances they found little opposition from Milan. The first chance, however, is for the Rossoneri, with a central header by Jovic. On 5′, there is a slightly deflected conclusion from the limit by Theo, which grazes the post. The match has a very low pace.
He tries at 21′, Chukwueze from the distance, the shot is blocked by Di Gregorio. Ten minutes later Valentin Carboni crosses for Djuric who goes close to the net with his header (the ball ends up on the crossbar of the posts). At 44′, there is a foul by Thiaw on Mota: Colombo concedes the penalty. It goes to Pessina who dispatches Maignan. In the first half recovery, Jovic has the right chance to equalize, but Pablo Marì manages to deflect. Soon after comes Mota’s goal. The action leading to the goal stems from a dribble by Colpani, who then serves Mota: the trequartista beats Maignan with a right-footed shot at the second post.
In the second half comes Jovic’s expulsion immediately for dangerous play. Carboni puts in another nice cross but Colpani, at 61′, header does not frame the goal. In 64′, Giroud reopens the game. Florenzi tries unsuccessfully from 40 yards. At 75′, Birindelli is stopped by Maignan. Pulisic found the equalizer with a great goal in the 88′: the American returned to the left side, kicked powerfully on the turn and past Sorrentino. But it was not over, in the 90′, Monza took the lead again with Bondo! Also for the Frenchman, a beautiful goal on the turn. In the recovery, Colombo puts in the fourth goal for the Brianzoli.
Table and report cards of Monza-Milan
MONZA (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio (43′, Sorrentino); Birindelli, Izzo, Marì, A. Carboni; Gagliardini, Pessina; Colpani (81′, Pereira), V. Carboni (66′, Bondo), Mota (81′, Maldini); Djuric (66′, Colombo). All: Palladino
MILAN (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Florenzi (83′, Musah), Thiaw, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer (54′, Giroud), Adli (46′, Reijnders); Chukwueze (46′, Pulisic), Loftus Cheek, Okafor (46′, Leao); Jovic
REFEREE: Andrea Colombo of the Como section.
MARKERS: 45′, Pessina (rig); 45’+6′, Mota; 64′, Giroud; 88′, Pulisic; 90′, Bondo; 90’+4′, Colombo.
NOTE: Admonished: 33′, Djuric; 45’+8′, Pessina; 50′, Jovic. Sent off: 52′, Jovic; 76′, Mota; 76′, Bondo; 82′, Gabbia. Recovered: 5′
The best player on the field is Colpani: tactically intelligent and spirited with the ball on his feet, he outruns opponents several times, creating dangerous actions (7). Adli makes a lot of mistakes, especially in the first half and puts his team in trouble (5). Okafor seems to be hiding, and when he comes out he is poorly served (5.5). Also bad is Thiaw, guilty on both goals conceded by Milan in the first half (4.5). Maignan also does poorly (5). Chukwueze is one of the liveliest among the Rossoneri in the first half, but still fails to create important or functional solutions (7).
Jovic does not play badly but has on his conscience the dastardly foul (a handful) that leaves the team in 10 at the start of the second half (5). In Monza Mota is the author of an excellent game, topped by a classy goal (7). Giroud, who entered in the second half, is among the most on the ball for Milan (6.5). Leao, on the other hand, seems tarnished (6). Pulisic also enters sufficiently, but then finds a masterful goal (7). Young Valentin Carboni alternates between excellent spurts and sleeps, losing dangerous balls (6). Among Milan’s defenders, the most positive is Gabbia (6).
Moviola and highlights of the match
The referee does not whistle a penalty for Milan around 35′, when Theo Hernandez is pushed: the Frenchman greatly accentuates the fall. No doubt about the penalty whistled to Monza. Instead, the referee needs VAR to expel Jovic: his dangerous play had only been sanctioned with a yellow. The striker deals a hand to Izzo with the ball far away. Izzo provokes but Jovic reacts.
